Spray device for the therapy and bathing of the perineal region of the human body



July 10, 1956 E. D. EVANS 2,753,570

SPRAY DEVICE FOR THE THERAPY AND BATHING OF THE PERINEAL REGION OF THE HUMAN BODY Filed Dec. 7, 1953 I NI 'E VTOR.

ELLIS D. EVANS United States Patent- SPRAY DEVICE FOR THE THERAPY AND BATH- ING OF THE PERINEAL REGION OF THE HU- MAN BODY Ellis D. Evans, Drexel Hill, Pa.

Application December 7, 1953, Serial No. 396,657

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-7) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in spray devices, and more particularly to a spray for the therapy of the perineal area of the human body.

In the post-operative care of patients who have undergone operative procedures on the anus, rectum, perineum and other parts in the perineal area of the body, the patient usually is required to bathe the wound area periodically for relatively long periods of time. In most cases, to do this the patient must sit in a tub of warm water for upwards of an hour several times each day. This procedure is found objectionable by most patients not only because of the bother of undressing and dressing several times a day but also because the warm bath water over substantial periods of time alfects the portion of the patients skin which is immersed in the warm water to the extent that many patients develop skin rashes and other irritations. Furthermore, infection of the wound from the bath water is not uncommon.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel spray device for the perineal region of the body which may be used by patients in post-operative therapy without completely removing the clothing and without the danger of irritating the patients skin or infecting the wound.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel perineal spray having the benefits and advantages set forth which is portable and which may be applied to the bowl of the conventional water closet and used by a patient in the customary sitting position thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel perineal spray device of the character described which is highly effective and efiicient in operation and use, yet is of the most simplified construction and economical to manufacture and sell.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a composite view of the invention showing the spray in operative association with a conventional water closet and connected to the faucet of an adjacent wash basin.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective of the spray device; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 33, Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a perineal spray made in accordance with the present invention comprises essentially a tubular member generally designated 1, into which water is introduced, and having a series of discharge openings 2 appropriately located along the tube so as to discharge a plurality of streams of water in the required direction.

More particularly, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the tubular member 1 is provided with a straight inlet end portion 3 of relatively short extent longitudinally. In the operative or use position of the spray the inlet end portion 3 of the device is adapted to be supported by the upper surface of the 2,753,570 Patented July 10, 1956 rim 4 of the bowl 5 of a conventional type water closet and to extend between the bowl 5 and customary seat 6 in the substantially horizontal relation shown in Fig. 1.

At its inner end the inlet portion 3 of the tubular member 1 merges into a front leg portion '7 of relatively short extent which is disposed substantially at right angles to said inlet portion 3, and thence into a central spray porliOH '3. The central spray portion 8 of the member 1 is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the tube portion 7 so that it slopes away from the said portion 7. Thus, in the mounted position of the spray in association with a conventional water-closet the spray portion 8 slopes or declines rearwardly within the bowl 5 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and is disposed, for example, at an angle of approximately 12 to 15 with respect to the horizontal.

Located in the upper surface of the angularly disposed spray portion 8 of the tubular member 1 is the series of discharge openings 2 previously mentioned. As shown these openings are arranged in alignment longitudinally of the tube and are equally spaced from one another at relatively close intervals of about, for example, one-half inch. The series of openings 2 is located closer to the forward end of the spray portion 8 or" the tube in the general relation shown in order properly to position the openings with respect to the perineal area of a person seated on the closet seat 6.

The angular spray portion 3 of the member 1 merges at its inner end in a rear leg portion 9 which is disposed substantially parallel to the leg portion 7. This rear leg portion 9 is of greater length than the front leg portion '7 and in the mounted position of the spray upon a water closet as shown in Fig. l, the leg portion 9 extends vertically upward from the lower inner end of the spray portion it entirely to the top of the bowl rim 4 where it terminates in an area support portion 19.

The rear support portion it] extends outwardly substantially at right angles to the leg 9 in approximate alignment coaxially with the inlet end portion 3 of the member and is adapted to rest upon the top surface of the bowl rim 4 at the rear of the water closet beneath the seat 6, for example, in the relation shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. This support portion it? of the tubular member l is flattened as indicated at 11 to close the rear or inner end of the member 1 against the flow of water therethrough. If desired the rear leg portion 9 of the device may also be flattened as shown at 12.

For the purpose of retaining the spray device in proper position with respect to the bowl 4 when mounted thereon and preventing it from swinging laterally about the axis of the inlet and rear support portions 3 and it respectively, there is fixedly mounted on the rear support Ill, for example, by means of rivets or the like fasteners 13, a cross-piece 14 which projects transversely from opposite sides of the support portion 10 and is engaged between the bowl rim 4 and seat 6 as shown in Fig. l. Preferably the cross-piece 14 is composed of relatively hard rubber to prevent scratching of the bowl and seat while at the same time having sufficient rigidity to retain the tubular member 1 in proper position in the water closet bowl.

To introduce water into the spray device a flexible connection such as a length of rubber hose 15 may be employed. One end of the hose 15 is connected to the inlet end 3 of the spray and the other end of the hose is equipped with an adapter 16 of conventional type which is connected to the common faucet outlet 17 of a con ventional wash basin or lavatory 13. The temperature of the water discharged from the spray openings 2 is regulated in the customary manner by manually adjusting the hot and cold valves 19 and 20, respectively, of the lavatory. In the case of separate faucets for hot and cold water a Y-adapter is employed in lieu of the adapter 16.

The manner of using the spray device of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing. The invention provides a.novel spray-device ,for thepost-operative therapy and :bathingofthe wounds in the perineal regionof the body without the necessity forcompletely removing the cloth ingand without irritating the patients skin or'infecting the-wound. The invention also is portable and may be readily applied to conventional water closets for use, and removed and stored in an out-of-the-way place when not'in use. .Furthermore, a spray device made according to the invention is highly effective and efficient in operation and useand is of simplified construction making the device .very economical to manufacture and sell.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to-the present disclosure and changes and modifications may be made in the construction within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A spray device for bathing the perineal region of the human body when disposed in sittingposition upon the seat of a water-closetbowl, comprising a tubular member having front inlet andrear support portions disposed in alignment and axially spaced apart to rest upon the bowl .and extend between the latter and said seat, said rear sup ,port portion of the tubular member being closed against liquid passage, leg portions of the tubular member connected at one end to the inner ends of the inlet and rear support portions respectively of the member and extending therefrom in the same direction substantially at right angles thereto in generally parallel relation, a central spray portion ofv the member connected between the other ends of said leg portions and extending therebetween, said spray portion of the member having a series of discharge openings extending longitudinally therein and directed into the .space lying between said leg portions, all of said portions of the member being disposed in a common plane, and a cross-piece fixedly secured to and extending transversely ofthe rear support portion of the member to engage between the water-closet bowl and seat and prevent lateral swinging movement of the spray in the bowl.

2. A spray device for bathing the perineal region of the humanbody when disposed in sitting position upon the seat of ,a water-closet bowl, comprising a tubular member having front inlet and rear support portions .disposed in alignment and axially spaced apart to rest .upon the bowl and extendbetween the latter and said seat, said rear support portion of the tubular member being closed against liquid passage, leg portions of the tubular member connected at one end to the inner ends of the inlet and rear support portions respectively of the member and extending therefrom in the same direction substantially at right angles thereto in generally parallel relation, said leg portion of the member connected to the inlet portion thereof being of substantially shorter length than the leg portion connected to the rear support portion of the member, a central spray portion of the member connected between the other ends of said leg portions and extending therebetween at an acute angle to the axis of spray portion of the member having a series of discharge openings extending longitudinally therein and directed into the space lying between said leg portions, and a crosspiece fixedly secured to and extending transversely of the rear support portion of the member to engage between the water-closet bowl and seat and prevent lateral swinging movement of the spray in the bowl.

3. A spray device for bathing the perineal region of the 'humanbody when disposed in sitting positionupon the seat of a water-closet bowl, comprising a tubular member having front inlet and rear supportportions disposed in alignment and axially spaced apart to rest upon the bowl and extend between the latter and said seat, said rear .support portion of the tubular member being flattened to close the rear end of said member against liquid passage, leg portions of the tubular member connected at one end to the inner ends of the inlet and rear support portions respectively of the member and extending therefrom in the same direction substantially atvright angles thereto in generally parallel relation, saidlegportion of the member connected to the inlet portion thereof being of substantially shorter length than the leg portion connected to the rear support portion of the member, and a central spray portion of the member connected between the other ends of said leg portions and extending therebetween at an acute angle to the axis of said inlet and rear support portions of the member, said spray portion of the member having a series of discharge openings extending longitudinally therein and directed into the space lying between said leg portions, all of said portions of the member being disposed in a common plane, and a crosspiece fixedly secured to and extending transversely of the rear support portion of the member to engage between the water-closet bowl and seat and prevent lateral swinging movement of the spray in the bowl.

4. A spray device for bathing the perineal region of the human body when disposed in sitting position upon the seat of a water-closet bowl, comprising a tubular member having opposite end portions thereof disposed .in spaced apart axial alignment with one another and constituting support portions to rest upon the bowl and extend between the latter and said seat, one of said end portions of the tubular member being closed against liquid passage, leg portions of the tubular member connected at one end to the inner ends of said end portions respectivelyof the member and extending therefrom in the same direction substantially at right angles thereto in. generally parallel relation, a central spray portion of the member connected between the other ends of said leg portions .and extending therebetween, said spray portion of the memberv having a series of discharge openings extending longitudinally therein and directed into the space lying between said leg. portions, all of said portions of the member being disposed in a common plane, and means secured to one of said end portions of the member and extending transversely thereof to engage the bowland prevent lateral swinging movement of the spray in the bowl.

Flanagan July 18, 1916 ,Claypoole July 5, 1932 

